Beyond books: content creation at the Toronto Public Library

The Toronto Public Library may not be your first thought when it comes to recording a video or podcast, but six locations provide all those services for the price of a library card. Dilshad Burman has more on their content creation facilities.

By Dilshad Burman

If you’re looking to shoot a professional quality video or record a demo tune, the library probably doesn’t spring to mind.

But as the Toronto Public Library (TPL) continues to expand its roster of services to appeal to a wider audience, it could be the studio for your next production project.

With the launch of their Digital Innovation Hubs at eight locations in 2014, six of them are equipped with audio and video recording and editing equipment – they provide the lights and cameras, you bring the action.

The services are free to the public and anyone with a library card can book recording equipment, space to shoot and computers equipped with editing software.

Some locations also run workshops that teach you how to create content, from planning and story-boarding to directing, shooting and editing.

Greg Astill, Digital Design technician at the Agincourt branch, says the facilities available and programs he coordinates are geared towards encouraging and empowering both experienced as well as up and coming content creators.

“We want the next Drake to come in here and play great music, we want the next filmmaker to come in, the next photographer, to all come in and feel like they have access to the equipment and that they can actually achieve artistically, whatever goal they want.”

Astill, who also conducts workshops and training sessions at the branch, says he’s seen a wide variety of people use the space, from professionals making audition tapes to kids doing homework assignments and even a young YouTuber who documented a pivotal time in her life.

“A young girl came in and was talking about transitioning – how she was transitioning from boy to girl –  and she was documenting it on a weekly YouTube vlog,” he explains. “It’s great to be able to encourage her to get her story out there … and that’s what its all about – getting their story out there.”

The Digital Innovation Hubs also house several other new, high-end and emerging technologies that would be a hobbyist’s dream come true – including 3D printers and professional sewing equipment.

“We have a huge strategic priority around providing people with access to technology and the training to be able to use those technologies,” says Ab Velasco, Manager of Innovation at TPL, adding that all the services are free – one of the big factors encouraging people of all stripes to try their hands at something new or perhaps otherwise inaccessible.

Velasco says libraries are more relevant than they’ve ever been and while they continue to be accessible and affordable knowledge banks, they’re also creative hubs.

“If you think about libraries traditionally – we’ve always been about places where you can really great content and information – it could be books, it could be ebooks – but libraries around the world are changing,” he says. “Now, we’re also places where you can come and create your own content and it’s really opened up wonderful opportunities for us.”

For a full list of locations and facilities at the library’s Digital Innovation Hubs, click here.

Booking studio space at a Toronto Public Library location:

  • Studio space is available at: Agincourt, Albion, Fort York, North York Central Library, Richview and Toronto Reference Library.
  • Make sure you have a valid library card. Find out how to get one here.
  • You can make reservations up to three business days in advance at Toronto Reference Library and North York Central Library and a week in advance at other locations.
  • Reservations are for a maximum of two hours a day
  • If you are part of a group, only one member of the group is allowed to make the booking.
  • Don’t be late – reservations are only held for 10 minutes.
  • Studios can be used on a drop-in bases, if available.

 

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today